Saturday colleges: Lady Pioneers power to win

Saturday

Jan 13, 2018 at 9:46 PMJan 13, 2018 at 9:46 PM

ALFRED — A night after a winter storm dumped over a foot of snow the Alfred State women's basketball team used a fast start to defeat Maine Fort Kent. The Pioneers went on an 18-4 run early in the first quarter as they raced to a 78-60 home victory.

The game was tied 4-4 early in the game before the Pioneers went on the 18-4 run. The blue and gold led 26-17 after the first quarter and 40-29 at the half. They added to their lead in the third and led by 20, 60-40. The Bengals cut the lead to nine early in the fourth quarter but the Pioneers put together another run to put the game away.

Anderson approached triple-double status herself, as the point guard finished with 12 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Shaulis had a career-high 16 points, and Gibson chipped in 12 points and 14 boards. Kelly Kane (Wellsville) came off the bench and added seven points.

The Pioneers (4-8) shot 60 percent from the field (12 for 20) in the first quarter to get off to the fast start. They finished the game shooting 43.1 percent from the field (31 for 72) and 54.2 percent from the foul line (13 for 24). They also held a 62-40 advantage on the boards.

The Pioneers are back at it on Monday when they travel to Pratt for a 5 p.m. tip-off.

Houghton women fall at Nazareth

ROCHESTER — Houghton women’s basketball team fell 73-60 to Nazareth on Saturday in Empire 8 conference play. The loss sets the Highlanders back to 8-7 overall on the year, 4-2 in Empire 8 play.

The Highlanders jumped out early on a 7-0 run and controlled the first two minutes of play. Houghton continued to find the basket, but Nazareth wasn’t too far behind coming within one-point with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

At the 4:58 mark of the second quarter the Golden Flyers took the lead, 28-27. The Highlanders were able to tie the game a couple of times, but Nazareth regained the lead 38-36 heading into halftime.

The Highlanders continue conference play against Utica College on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Nielsen Center.

AU men surge past St. John Fisher

ROCHESTER — The Alfred University men's basketball team overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat host St. John Fisher College 86-81 Saturday afternoon at the Bobby Wanzer Court.

The Saxons (10-4,3-2 Empire 8) were led by junior forward Sage Brown as he finished with the double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds (six offense, seven defense). Seniors Nick Schmidt (Olean) and Dalton Cousin each chipped in 17 points for Alfred. Schmidt also finished the game with four assists and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

The Saxons had a tough time slowing down the Fisher offense in the first half as the Cardinals shot 60 percent from the field compared to Alfred's 40.6. With the hot shooting, Fisher gained a lead as much as 14 in the half and took a 51-39 lead into halftime.

"We showed a lot of heart and toughness today," said AU head coach Russell Phillips. "To be down 12 at half on the road and come away with a win is huge. Our defensive energy really picked up and we got a lot of timely stops."

Alfred found a spark on offense and went on a 9-0 run that was capped off by a three-pointer by sophomore guard Sam Dagon (Hornell) with 12:42 to go in regulation to make it 59-58. Alfred would prevail, going on a 12-4 run thanks to first-year forward Jeremiah Zitz having the go-ahead basket and back-to-back threes from Schmidt.

The Saxons wrap-up their three-game road trip at Elmira College on Jan. 16.

Flyers pull away, defeat Highlanders

ROCHESTER — The Nazareth Golden Flyers capitalized on a 17-5 second half run to hand the Houghton Highlanders their second loss in as many days, 78-65, and their 11th straight defeat.

Just over five minutes into the second half the Golden Flyers drained a three to grab the lead, 44-43, and steal the momentum from the Highlanders.

Houghton (3-12, 0-6) continued to battle throughout, drawing within three as Dylan Lambert sank a jumper with 4:31 remaining in the game, but from that point on Nazareth would finish the game with a 13-3 run.

Lambert led all scorers with 29 points as he collected his fourth double-double of the season, adding 12 rebounds to his tally.

Houghton returns to the Nielsen Center on Friday to take on the Utica Pioneers in the front end of another men's/women's Empire 8 doubleheader.

Lady Saxons downed by Cardinals

ROCHESTER — The Alfred University women's basketball team fell on the road at St. John Fisher College, 73-49 in Empire 8 action.